History/Folklore: Native to North America, Aletris farinose is unsustainable du to habitiat destruction and is considered to be endangered. Clinical trials are lacking (Natural Standard, 2014). The fresh root has been traditionally used as a narcotic, emetic and catharic, however the dried root is more commonly traditionally used in digestive disorders and as a women’s tonic (Natural Standard, 2014).

Constituents: Bitter principal (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Actions

Bitter (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Anti-spasmodic (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Sedative (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Indications

Sluggish digestion (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Dyspepsia (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Flatulence (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Debility (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Anorexia (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Digestive colic (Hoffmann, 1990, p. 238)

Considered beneficial for habitual miscarriage due to chronic uterine weakness (Natural Standard, 2014)

History/Folklore: Eurapean Mistletoe was considered a sacred herb in Celtic tradition (Natural Standard, 2014). The herb has a history of use in ancient Greek and Roman medicine (Natural Standard, 2014). The Eclectic’s used large and frequent doses of the fresh plant to facilitate labour (Bone, 2003, p. 329). In the beginning of the 20th century Mistletoe became a cancer therapy in herbal medicine potentially due to the herbs immunostimulatory and cytotoxic actions, however it is yet to gain significant clinical evidence to support this (Natural Standard, 2014).

American Mistletoe (associated with Christmas tradition) is a different species with similar properties, but different traditional uses (Natural Standard, 2014).